Check-writing machine



E. F. ODONNELL AND D. ERICKSON. CHECK WRiTING MACHINE.

AvPLlcATioN HLED APR.2. 1920.

l ,$558,458. Patented Nov. 9,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. F. ODONNELL AND D. ERICKSON.

. CHECK WRITING MACHlNE.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

EDVTARD F. ODONNELL AND DANIEL'ERICKS-ON, OF CHICAGO, ILINOIS. ASSIGNORS,

BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CRESCENT C HECK WRITER COMPANY, A CORPORAe" TION OF ILLINGIS.

To cil/Z 107mm if may concern.:

it known that we, Emmen ODoN- Num. and DANIEL EnreiisoN, citizens of the .which illustrated in the accompanying drawings, formingia part thereof. y

The invention relates to machines tor filling` in blank bank checks and like documents; and its object is to provide asimple and compact apparatus, the invention consisting particularly in the arrangement and support ot the type characters, as will more itully hereinafter appear.

ln the embodiment et the invention here in shown and described, it is applied in a machine for illing in the amount ot the check, but it would, ot course, be equally applicable for the printing ot diii'erent characters. f i

In the accompanying drawings- Figure l is an inverted plan view ot the disk carrying the printing characters;

Fig. 2 is a bottoni plan View ot' the niachine, showing 'the arrangement of the oper# ating levers;

Fig'. 3 is a vsectional View on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, showing the machine in upright position; and

Fig. 4lis a itace View of a check upon Which the machine is operated.

The machine consists of a base l0, comprising a flat plate ll and a depending iiange or flanges, as 12, constituting supporting legs. This base, iii the disclosed embodiment of the machine, approximately square.

A frame 13, of the saine `general configuration, is mounted upon the base l0, and is rigidly secured thereto, and carries a cover plate 14 permanently tixed in place, upon which may be mounted an indicating disk lfor guiding the operator in positioning the type characters tor the printing operation.

A vertical spindle 16 is journaled centrally in the plates l1 and 14, and is provided at `its upper end with a crank handle 17, by means et' which it may be turned, and which also serves as a guide to the operator in connection with the indicating disk 15..

Specification of Letters Patent.

lines subtending an acute angle.

CHECK-WRITING MACHINE.

l.atentcd Nov. tl., iltltl.

Application filed April 2, 1920. Serial No. 370,693.

vertically reciprocable platen 2() is housed in a suitable slot in the plate l1, and may be torced upwardly against the. lower tace ol the disk 1H by suitable levers, as 2l, actuated b v a crank shalt 22 journaled in the flange or lugs l2, and provided with a crank arni 23 by incans ol which it may be rotated.

An abutment or backing' block 2l depends 'from the plate ll above the platen 2l), its. .lower end beinev contiguous to the upper tace o'lE the disk 1H, this block serving to hold the disk against displacement by the up iard pressure ol'v Jthe platen.

Suitable check feeding,r mechanism is provided, whicli need not be Yfully illustrated and described as it docs not torni a part of the present. inventifni. .lt consists, hovvfever, oi a pair o' knurled wheels 25, 2li, cirried on a shalt 27 iournalcd in brackets secured to the under Vface oi' the plate l1, and actuated by a pawlvand ratchet n'iechanisni 2S controlled by the lever 21 through a spindle 29.

ilin inking' padsemi-circular in `forni, is

Vsupported in a carrier l() nionnted on or within the plate l1, suitable means being provided for forcing this pad ulnvardly against the under tace olI the disk. This mechanism is not herein described, as this 'feature 'ol the machine is not involved in the present inventimi` 'lhe type characters are i'oi'nied or secured to the under radial face of the disk i8, and are 4positioned adjacent' its margin. Each of these characters occupies a liuc 82 ol)- lique to radii ol the disk which intersects it, or, ditterently stated, on a line tangential to a circle concentric with but et smaller diameter than the disk. rllhe various type lines are unilfornily spaced apart, adjacent A11 annular zone 3l ot5 the disk face, lyiiner immediately Within the zone 'occupied by the type characters, is adapted to be provided with projections which will contribute to the perforation of the .paper printed upon, these perforations aiding to cut or indent lOl the type characters are arranged and the zone 3l. One line 32 is shown as in register with the platen and this will be the line that Will be impressed upon the check, and

when so impressed is oblique to the printing line on the check.

Preferably the metal of which the type characters and the Zone 31 are formed is soft, and the type faces as well as the surface of the Zone 3l are initially smooth. The face of the platen 2O is provided with numerous projections, preferably in the form of points, and the length of the platen issuch that it will coperate with the zone 31 as Well as With the type `characters. The platen being pressed upwardly against the disk, or, more properly, lagainst the paper ,inserted betWeen it and the disk, will perforate the paper and indent the faces of the type characters and a portion of the zone 31. Such indentations will be formed in the soft metal carried by the disk upon each impression, unless the points of the platen shall enter the indentations previously made.

By the term type character as herein used is meant either a single letter or ligure, a Word, a 'fanciful design, or a symbol of any nature which it may be desired to im? print or stamp upon the face of the check.

The details of the mechanism by which ink is applied to the type characters, and for various other of the 'operations performed, not being claimed in this application, are not shown and described in detail.

ln the operation of the machine as herein described, a check or similar 'slip of paper 83 having been inserted between the plate 11 and the disk 18 through the aperture 19, and having been engaged by the feeding Wheels 25, 26, an impression by the platen against a line of the type characters Will imprint such characters in and upon the surface of the check, obliquely across a line longitudinal thereof, and Will also cut the paper above this line by cooperation with the zone 3l of the disk. Upon the lowering of the platen the feeding Wheels Will be advanced a step, carrying the check with them, and the next `.imprint upon the check will be on a line adjacent and parallel to theline previously printed. By this arrangement of the printing characters a phrase of considerable length may be imprinted upon the face of the check and in type of sufficient size to be easily read, without. rendering it necesassente sary to increase the length of .the check beyond that Which is commonly used.

We claim as our inventionf- 1. A check Writer comprising, in combination, a circular disk,a series ofA groups of type characters on a radial face of saiddisk arranged to form Words, said groups of type characters lying upon and adjacent one end of chords of the circle of equal length, such' chords being equally spaced about the disk, means to ink said type, and means to press a check against selected of' said `groups with the printing line oblique to the chord upon which a selected group lies While said check is being pressed thereagainst.

2. ln a check Writing machine, in combination, a rotatable disk bearing upon a radial face a plurality of lines of type characters, the several lines being arranged on equally spaced tangents to a common circle of less diameter than the periphery ofthe disk, a platen 'for coperating With the type characters, means for compressing a check between said platen and a selected one of said lines with the printingline of the check oblique to the selected line of type characters.

3. In a check Writing machine, in combination, a disk bearing type' `characters upon a radial face and adjacent its periphery, and a set of perforating projections on such face and radially Within the zone bearing the type characters, a platen for cooperating with the 'type characters and the projections, and means for causing compressive engagement of the disk and platen.

4l. ln a check Writing machine, in combination, a bed over which a check may be moved in a right line, a platen acting through the bed with its longest dimension oblique to said right line, a revoluble disk mounted over the bed and bearing upon a radial face groups of type characters arranged i`n relatively oblique lines tangent to a circle concentric with and of smaller diameter than the disk, said groups being adapted to be brought successively and at Will -into alinement with said platen.

5. ln a check writing machine, in combination, a diskbearing raised type characters on one radial face and on an annular zone adjacent the periphery of the disk, an annular zone 'immediately adjacent said type Zone raised on a level with the Jfaces of said type characters; a rcciprocable platen, means to cause a check to be compressed between said zones and platen, and a plurality of perforating projections on one of said com` pressing means. f

EDWARD F. ODONNELL. DANIEL ERICKSON. 

